“Among the peculiarities of society, have you not noted the capriciousness of its judgements and the inconsistency of its demands? There are people to whom everything is permitted. They can be guilty of the most outrageous things, and nothing they do is wrong; people hasten to find excuses for their conduct. But there are others on whom the world is inexplicably severe: such people must do everything well, never make a mistake, never show any weakness, not even permit themselves a foolish action; they are like statutes that everyone admires, but which are taken down from their pedestals the moment that winter chips off a finger or cracks a nose; no human weakness is permitted them, they are obliged to remain for ever divine and faultless.”
Honoré de Balzac, “Lost Illusions”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 